Whether you are sitting down at your dining room table, receiving your plate at a restaurant, or just eating a regular meal, you are faced with the age-old question. The question that our ancestors have battled with for centuries, that can single-handedly alter the capabilities of a meal to engage your taste buds. Salt or pepper?
The plate of delicious food faces you, and you are in a deadlock over whether to add a layer of salt, pepper, or a combination of the two. Scrambled eggs, roasted vegetables, a large steak, and a side of French fries lay in front of you. A simple theoretical case study detailing the choices of an experienced eater reveals the optimization that one of these seasonings has as compared to the other. For maximizing flavor-per-bite efficiency, one of these seasonings reigns supreme. To get the highest echelon of taste in your bite, we both know which seasoning you will grab; salt.
The way this rough, white mineral grasps your food and packs a powerful flavour punch is unmatched. In my personal experience, I have reached for the pepper shaker just once in my life, and that was the last time. A 2023 study by the National Institutes of Health found that 90% of Americans consume more sodium than the recommended amount, underscoring both the popularity and abundance of salt in American diets. One Belmont Hill student stated, “I don’t even know why we have pepper shakers at the tables. I only use salt.” While excessive salt consumption may not promote perfect long-term health, it is far and away the most delicious option on the table.
